Wellington Regional Medical Center  Designated A Comprehensive Stroke Center

Recognizing the prevalence of stroke-related hospital visits, Wellington Regional Medical Center made a commitment to the community to become a Comprehensive Stroke Center, which allows the hospital to care for some of the most complex cases and allows residents to receive care without having to leave the Wellington area.

WRMC is one of only 40 hospitals in Florida with this advanced designation.

“Previously, residents of Wellington and the surrounding communities were transported out of the area for stroke care,” WRMC CEO Robbin Lee said. “Now, not only can we treat our residents here in their community, we provide stroke care that follows nationally recognized guidelines that ultimately saves lives and improves the outcomes of stroke.”

The Comprehensive Stroke Center designation is given to hospitals that have distinct abilities to treat the most complex neurovascular diseases, such as stroke. WRMC’s dedicated, multi-disciplinary stroke team, which is specially trained and available to care for stroke patients 24 hours a day, seven days a week, includes a neuro-interventionalist, neurosurgeon, neurologists, emergency room physicians, intensivists, critical care registered nurses and a stroke coordinator.

To support the program, WRMC invested in a state-of-the-art neurointerventional lab that features a biplane angiography system to diagnose and treat strokes and other neurovascular diseases. The new equipment provides 3D technology, allowing for optimal evaluation of the neurological vascular system for diagnostic and treatment purposes.

The neurointerventional program is led by Medical Director Dr. Juan Gomez, a board-certified radiologist with fellowship training in neurointerventional radiology, neurodiagnostic radiology and vascular/interventional radiology. Gomez performs procedures in the neurological field and has vast experience in endovascular treatment of lower extremity arterial disease, venous disease and aortic aneurism treatment.

According to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA), stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability in the United States. On average, someone in the U.S. suffers a stroke every 40 seconds, someone dies of a stroke every four minutes and nearly 800,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year.

WRMC recently received the AHA/ASA’s Get with the Guidelines Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award with Target: Stroke Honor Roll. The award recognizes the hospital’s commitment to providing the most appropriate stroke treatment to patients according to nationally recognized guidelines.

“These quality measures are designed to help our team follow the most up-to-date, evidence-based guidelines with the goal of speeding recovery and reducing death and disability for stroke patients,” said Alice Cruikshank, stroke coordinator of WRMC’s Comprehensive Stroke Program. “This recognition underscores the team’s hard work, but more importantly, it means we are doing the right thing for our patients.”

In an effort to educate the public about the signs and symptoms of stroke and the importance of calling 9-1-1 as soon as possible, WRMC has teamed up with the AHA/ASA as the Together to End Stroke community partner. Four-foot-tall red letters that spell out “FAST” have been touring Palm Beach County since February, warning people to look for the following signs:

F – Facial drooping: Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person’s smile uneven or lopsided?

A – Arm weakness: Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

S – Speech difficulty: Is speech slurred? Is the person unable to speak or hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Is the person able to correctly repeat the words?

T – Time to call 9-1-1: If someone shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and say, “I think this is a stroke.” This will help get the person to the hospital immediately, since time is of the essence.

The FAST letters were recently on display at the Wellington Community Center, where Gomez addressed a group of nearly 60 people on the signs and symptoms of stroke.

The engaged crowd asked several important questions, understanding that spotting the signs of someone having a stroke and reacting quickly can make a big difference in the outcome of a person’s stroke.

The letters are scheduled to make appearances at the Palm Beach Zoo, Lion Country Safari and the Mall at Wellington Green, among other places throughout the county.

The hospital was also recognized in a proclamation by Wellington Mayor Anne Gerwig, declaring May as National Stroke Month and lauding the hospital for its efforts to make Wellington a healthier community through education and providing important lifesaving programs.

“Stokes can occur to anyone at any time. Leading a healthy lifestyle, including exercising, eating a balanced diet and not smoking, can reduce the risk of stroke,” Gomez said. “Recognizing the signs of stroke, calling 9-1-1 and getting someone to a hospital like Wellington Regional Medical Center, which is prepared to treat complex strokes, is extremely important. I am proud to work with WRMC and the AHA/ASA to make a difference by getting out into the community and educating our residents on stroke.”

Wellington Regional Medical Center is a 233-bed acute-care hospital celebrating more than 30 years of treating residents in Wellington and the surrounding area. For more information, visit www.wellingtonregional.com. “The whole reason I took on a job with Orangetheory two and half years ago was because of the different vibe. It’s more family based,” he said. “We don’t just go like big gyms, ‘Oh, another person in here; enjoy your workout.’ We try to get personal with our members.”

Cohen continues to add personal touches to the fitness experience at Orangetheory, calling his members to ask about their dieting outside of the gym and pushing them to meet their goals.

“If somebody comes in here and tells me they’re looking to lose 15 to 20 pounds, two weeks later I’m going to call that person and ask them how it’s going,” Cohen said. “I’m going to ask them if they’ve been coming in. I’m going to ask them if they’ve been changing a little bit of their dieting habits.”

Orangetheory Wellington is located at 2625 N. State Road 7, For more information, call (561) 296-0485 or visit http://wellington.orangetheoryfitness.com.

New Level II NICU Open At Palms West Hospital For Tiniest Patients

Forty weeks is a long time to look forward to any event. If that event is the birth of a child, you will probably experience a full range of emotions while you wait — everything from joy to anxiousness. When the baby is born, you will be flooded with a sense of relief that everything has gone well.

But what if everything has not gone well? What if the baby is born too early or has a serious medical issue? The all-consuming emotion then is likely fear.

Palms West Hospital can now put those fears to rest. Long regarded for its focus on family-centered care, the hospital recently opened its new Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and renovated 10 maternity suites located in the adjacent birthing center.

Originally opening in 1986, the New Life Center at Palms West Hospital has spent 30 years listening to what parents want and what doctors need. The new state-of-art Level II NICU is the result.

Because not every baby born is a “well baby,” nor even a Level I baby, parents of infants with complex medical conditions can now stay together and focus on providing the needed support to their newest family member in comfortable, secure and private NICU suites while highly trained specialists do their jobs using the latest state-of-the-art technology.

“Our private rooms allow for intimate bonding time, which is ultimately difficult to achieve in a semi-private setting,” said Eric Goldman, CEO of Palms West Hospital. “Our NICU’s family-centered care environment provides these newborns and their parents with all the loving support they need and deserve.”

Each room is equipped with incubators, ventilators and other specialized equipment for premature newborns. Because family-centered care is such a priority at Palms West Hospital, the upgrades incorporate NicView Streaming technology, which allows families to view their newborn from a secure camera portal anytime, anywhere, on any device with internet access.

“NicView Streaming was a priority for us. Families should not miss a second of their baby’s early moments,” New Life Center Clinical Director Toni Ahern said.

Palms West Hospital is one of only five hospitals in Florida with this unique technology. “We are thrilled to unveil the upgrades to our New Life Center,” Ahern added. “The expansion is much more than decorative — we have expanded our staff and services to ensure that it is the safest place to welcome your baby.”

The new Level II NICU is staffed around-the-clock by board-certified neonatologists, experienced nurses, respiratory therapists, anesthesiologists and social workers in a unit that is equipped with the technology and equipment required to provide the most advanced and specialized care.

Dr. Bernardo Pimentel of South Dade Neonatologists specializes in the treatment of premature babies. He is very excited that the new Level II NICU is open at Palms West Hospital. “Level II is level of care provided to newborns who weigh one kilo or more,” Pimentel explained. “Typically, five to seven percent of all pregnancies result in premature births, often to younger mothers, diabetics, those with hypertension or drug addicts.”

Construction began on the new Level II NICU in January and was completed in mid-April at a cost of $4.9 million. “This unit is brand new,” Pimentel said. “There are big rooms. We can keep the mother there and they can see what we are doing with the capability of a camera. After she is released, the mother can see the baby from home. If the father is a soldier or out of state, he can see the baby through the internet.”

The fact that a neonatologist is on site 24 hours a day is also a real advantage, Pimentel stressed. No longer does the onsite doctor have to call for a specialist, then wait for the specialist to arrive.

Pimentel is also pleased with the highly trained neonatal nursing staff. “They are very capable nurses there,” Pimentel said. “They are well-prepared, and now they will get even more experience because they have the opportunity to deal with sicker babies. The babies will get the best care. We have always encouraged the participation of the parents in the baby’s care. Yet, in the past, a baby with issues had to be transferred somewhere else because we didn’t have the space, and it was only a Level I NICU. The expanded New Life Center is a good thing for the community and the entire area.”

Goldman said that new Level II NICU is an important upgrade for the hospital. “The addition of the neonatal intensive care unit was the missing piece of the Palms West Hospital puzzle,” he said. “For 31 years, we’ve been providing outstanding care in our children’s hospital, utilizing the most comprehensive group of physician specialists in more than 25 different pediatric specialties. Now we are able to extend that care, which is typically only found in university settings, to our newest and most fragile patients.

This serves as an example of our commitment to the western communities to be the leader in providing quality care with the most advanced technology to the patients we serve.”

Palms West Hospital is located at 13001 Southern Blvd. For more info., call (561) 798-3300 or visit www.palmswesthospital.com.

Pure Barre’s Unique Workout Is Gaining Popularity In Wellington

Micah Peters has been a fixture at the Pure Barre studio in Wellington since it opened. She has been the manager of the location since May 2014.

“I’ve been managing the studio since then, but I took over in November,” said Peters, who now owns the local fitness studio. “It was an opportunity that I could not pass up.”

Peters fell in love with the Pure Barre community and its unique workout when she was studying at Florida International University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in nutrition and dietetics. Paired with her cheerleading and dance background, Pure Barre, a combination of Pilates and ballet, was the perfect fit.

After Peters graduated, she learned that Pure Barre was opening in Wellington — her hometown. She knew it was the perfect opportunity to get involved as a teacher. “If you can hold onto the bar, you can do Pure Barre,” she said.

Pure Barre offers a beginners’ class called Pure Foundations for anyone who has taken five or fewer classes, where participants learn the various building blocks to the exercises in a hands-on, individualized small-class setting.

The typical 55-minute class can have up to 23 participants. “We target each muscle section to shake fatigue, and then stretch them out to create long, lean muscles, stretching each muscle section after we work it,” Peters said. “It’s low impact and easy on the joints. The workout was created by a woman and is geared toward a woman’s body, targeting the areas that women struggle with.”

However, men are also encouraged to join, and there are often special events to introduce men to Pure Barre. Nationwide, some NFL players take classes to sharpen their skills.

Participants must be 16 or older to take the class, which uses body weight for resistance, medicine balls, resistance tubes, and two-, three- and five-pound weights.

There are more than 450 studios across the country, with a similar layout in each, Peters explained, with a welcoming area, retail section, studio and cubbies for personal items.

The dress code is leggings or capris — shorts aren’t allowed because you want to keep your legs warm — a tank top or T-shirt, but no bare midriffs, and socks. Socks with grips are recommended.

Pure Barre isn’t just a workout, Peters stressed.

“It’s the community. It’s the environment. Seeing women come in here every day, the changes in their body, mentally, physically… it’s more than just a workout,” she explained. “The mental capacity, the physical capacity, the mind-body connection you have in it and seeing the change in others, and inspiring others and being inspired by clients as well. It’s amazing to see results in clients.”

Clients see results in as little as 10 classes, she said, and are able to find a familiar environment and workout when they travel. They also form lasting relationships.

“Clients will have met here, and they go on trips to New York together,” Peters said. “This is more than a workout. Friendships are developed here.”

Pure Barre has different milestones that are celebrated, be it 100 classes, 250 classes, 500 classes, 750 classes or 1,000 classes. When a client hits one of those milestones, they sign a bar in the back and receive a pair of socks.

Peters has seen clients overcome injuries and grow stronger, enjoy the challenge and transform their bodies. Pure Barre offers multiple membership packages, including those for brides-to-be and those who want to bounce back from having a baby.

Pure Barre is a challenge whether it is your first class or 1,000th class, she said, but always a great experience.

“Once you’re hooked, you’re hooked,” Peters said. “Once Pure Barre is in your life, it’s one of those things where you don’t ever want to let it go.”

For those who have never taken a class, Peters suggests coming a few minutes early — and be sure to keep an open mind.

“The first class can be a little bit overwhelming,” she said. “That’s completely normal. Give it a few tries, and you’ll definitely see results, because it is an effective exercise. It’s also fun to bring a friend because they hold you accountable, and you’re able to work out and have a good time together while changing your body.”

The Pure Barre experience is one that Peters truly enjoys sharing with her community.

“Pure Barre has always been a positive thing in my life,” Peters said. “It’s a dream for me to be able to actually say, ‘this is mine.’”

Pure Barre classes are listed online, where attendees are able to sign up and reserve a spot morning, afternoon and evening. Unlike other classes, attendees are able to sign up weeks in advance or on their way over. Walk-ins are accepted, and attendees can sign up for a class in the Pure Barre app. The Wellington location offers a new client special, as well as other promotions and packages.

Pure Barre Wellington is located at 11924 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 22, in Wellington Town Square. For more information, call (561) 469-7943, e-mail wellington@purebarre.com or visit www.purebarre.com/fl-wellington.

Orangetheory’s Heart-Rate-Monitored Training Helps Members Meet Goals

Orangetheory Fitness Wellington is one of more than 500 Orangetheory studio locations worldwide offering heart-rate-monitored personal training, interval fitness programs.

One of the main goals at Orangetheory is to strive for a calorie afterburn or the “excess post-exercise oxygen consumption” (EPOC) effect, as Studio Manager Kevin Cohen explained. According to this method, the body will continue to burn calories after exercise when pushing the body to its limits during workouts.

“Depending on your height and your weight, things like that, you could burn from 300 to 700 calories 36 hours after the workout, as well as however many calories you burn in your workout,” Cohen said.

The fitness club is a group-training facility, so clients are always working in groups when training at an Orangetheory location. Still, Cohen said they set up consultations with members who are working toward their own specific goals while exercising alongside others.

“Before anybody takes their first class with us, we have them come in 30 to 40 minutes early,” Cohen said. “We develop a personal touch and have them fill out a clientele intake form.”

Those personal touches are what Orangetheory locations work toward to give every member a unique experience.

“We go over their goals and see what they’re trying to accomplish, as well as introduce them to the trainer,” Cohen said. “It’s 20 minutes with us and 20 minutes with the trainer, and that’s pretty much how we get an idea for exactly what kind of workout we’re going to have for them and what we need to modify.”

The moment they step into the gym, clients are given heart rate monitors to use during exercise, and then personal heart rates are displayed on LED screens throughout the gym. There are five color-coded levels, which correlate with a percentage of your maximum heart rate: Gray, Blue, Green, Orange and Red.

“There is not going to be one person who is going to try to keep up with another person’s speed throughout the whole class,” Cohen said. “Everyone is going to go at their own pace.”

The goal is to be exercising with heart rates in the orange and red zones for the majority of the time. This gives the body the best chance to reach EPOC, the afterburn effect. “You can definitely push yourself more with the heart rate monitor,” Cohen said. “Just seeing your zones up there on the screen, you know if you’re slacking or not.”

Each class is 60 minutes long. They feature intervals of cardiovascular and strength training. During an individual’s consultation with an Orangetheory trainer, the client will get to work on goals and key in on personal fitness areas, whether it be weight loss, strength building, muscle tone and more.

When you leave the Orangetheory gym, the heart rate training doesn’t have to stop.

“The heart rate monitors that we use here can also be used outside the studio. If you’re going for a jog or going to play basketball, you can download the app, hook it up, and then you can actually see what heart rate zones you’re in,” Cohen said.

Cohen originally started working for Orangetheory at its headquarters studio in Fort Lauderdale, where the Orangetheory fitness journey began in 2010. Cohen was once a skeptic of heart-rate-monitored training, but has since found it to be personally effective.

“I really started focusing on that and going into some details with that and learning about it, and, personally, I’ve already lost a lot of weight, and my condition has gone up [by] huge numbers,” Cohen said. “I would definitely say it’s the EPOC effect.”

Cohen enjoys the culture at Orangetheory Wellington.

“The whole reason I took on a job with Orangetheory two and half years ago was because of the different vibe. It’s more family based,” he said. “We don’t just go like big gyms, ‘Oh, another person in here; enjoy your workout.’ We try to get personal with our members.”

Cohen continues to add personal touches to the fitness experience at Orangetheory, calling his members to ask about their dieting outside of the gym and pushing them to meet their goals.

“If somebody comes in here and tells me they’re looking to lose 15 to 20 pounds, two weeks later I’m going to call that person and ask them how it’s going,” Cohen said. “I’m going to ask them if they’ve been coming in. I’m going to ask them if they’ve been changing a little bit of their dieting habits.”

Orangetheory Wellington is located at 2625 N. State Road 7, For more information, call (561) 296-0485 or visit http://wellington.orangetheoryfitness.com.

Bethesda Health Now Offering A Wide Array Of Services In Wellington

We’ve all been there. You wake up and feel miserable — sniffles, sore throat and achy all over. These are the times when most people want to go straight back to bed and pull the covers over their heads.

But when going back to bed is not an option, Bethesda Health now offers new services in Wellington that can help you feel better fast. For starters, Bethesda Health Urgent Care, located on Forest Hill Blvd. near Barnes & Noble in front of the Mall at Wellington Green, provides convenient medical care 365 days a year, seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. There’s never a need to make an appointment, and walk-ins are always welcome. Bethesda’s medical team sees everyone from babies to seniors.

With a longstanding reputation for providing trusted medical care since 1959, Bethesda Health Urgent Care provides care for a comprehensive array of medical conditions, including: allergic reactions, asthma attacks, colds, flu, viruses, sports injuries and urinary tract infections. Laboratory services are also available, and most prescriptions, if necessary, are available at check-out, saving time from having to go to the pharmacy after your visit.

Plus, whether it is a broken bone, sore throat or the flu, Bethesda’s on-site imaging center can make accurate diagnoses with the support of on-site X-rays and CT scans. As part of Bethesda Health Urgent Care, the imaging center will help ensure that the right diagnosis is made. Walk-in patients are welcome with a prescription from their doctor.

Bethesda Health Urgent Care can also provide school physicals and immunizations, as well as sports physicals, providing Wellington-area families with convenient care — and most insurance plans are accepted.

Women have different medical needs, and to cater to those needs, Bethesda’s Women’s Health Care Center is conveniently located next door to Bethesda Health Urgent Care. The center has an all-female staff comprised of physicians, a breast surgeon and breast health experts who provide comprehensive breast care services, using the most advanced technology.

Among those services is screening tomosynthesis 3D mammography, the most advanced technology in breast care. Diagnostic mammography and diagnostic breast ultrasound are also offered, with same day results. Plus, there is always a board-certified radiologist to read the results. Bethesda Women’s Health Center is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with Saturday and evening hours, available by appointment.

For added convenience day or night, Bethesda now offers Care on Demand. This new telemedicine service is available via any mobile device, computer or tablet 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Care on Demand provides immediate access to a board-certified physician. Physicians are available in family medicine and internal medicine to provide medical care in the comfort of your home. In the event you need follow-up medical care, patients will be referred to a Bethesda physician or a Bethesda facility.

Do you have a loved one at a Florida college or university? A Care on Demand telemedicine visit has a flat fee of $59 per visit, payable by credit card at the time of the call. For someone away at a Florida college, Care on Demand not only offers fast, convenient medical care for students, but can also bring peace of mind to worried parents.

Finally, if you are looking for a doctor’s office that can see your family, Bethesda Health Physician Group-Wellington may be just what you need. Conveniently located across from Office Depot on State Road 7 in Wellington, the practice sees patients ages 14 and up and is comprised of board-certified physicians in family medicine, internal medicine and cardiology.

Together, with more than 30 years of combined experience, internal medicine physicians Dr. Andrew Savin and Dr. Joseph Jose, and family medicine physician Dr. Gincy Kandankulam, along with cardiologists Dr. Rachel Eidelman and Dr. Christina Michael, are dedicated to providing the very best in medical care.

Bethesda Health Physician Group provides a comprehensive array of services to help patients manage a wide variety of conditions, including: cardiac disease, diabetes, geriatric medicine, high cholesterol, hypertension, men’s health, obesity, osteoporosis and women’s health. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with evening hours available by appointment. Most insurance plans are accepted.

Whether you need immediate medical care or are looking for a new physician for your family, Bethesda Health is there to help. As a not-for-profit healthcare provider, Bethesda Health is proud to serve the Wellington community and provide quality health services in a caring manner with the highest commitment to patient safety.

For more information about Bethesda Health’s services, visit www.bethesdaweb.com or call (561) 737-7733, ext. 84405.